Annoyed by my Bank!

I don't think we have anything quite like Amscott over here. Most people have a Current Account (more or less equivalent to your Checking Account) with a usually well established national bank. We tend not to have the interstate differences that you have and, even within the EU, transactions go smoothly via Visa or Mastercard.

Good evening my dear, I'm sure there are companies here who do similar things. In my own case, I take cash out of the ATM's if I use the business account - the withdrawals are free. As for cheques (checks), I havent issued a cheque for ages and ages. I prefer to use my company debit card for purchases and other transactions. My personal accounts are free of charge also. But, all that asside, I do agree with your frustrations about banks. I think that they have a lot to answer for when it comes to their charges, especially when they impose charges for unauthorised overdrafts which some people cause themselves. Nice to hear from you tonight, GT

GT You hit the nail on the head, as they say. We have had problems with the unauthorized debits and the charges they incurred. Not only did we have to pay dearly for them but the bank allowed them despite the fact that they were not authorized by any means. I believe in paying for my mistakes but I'm afraid the banks have gotten out of control with others money. leenie

Yes indeed, I have always enjoyed a good relationship with Lloyds, but sometimes, I think they get all 'unneccesary' about things - mainly just to get 'one-up' on the competition. Thanks for your comment, GTG

The sort of behaviour you describe would put them 'one down', in my view! I bank with Lloyds (my personal account) and HSBC (joint account). I have occasionally used this to remind one or the other (usually HSBC) that they are not the only ones on the planet that I deign to let look after my money. Never forget that you are their customer and they are your servants and that there is always someone else who would be dying for your business. (Yes, and I know that banks seem to be dying off like flies at the moment ... but have you noticed how many more adverts there are lately from people who want to lend you money?) Another technique you can use is to ask them to phone you back, since you don't wish to pay for the call. Something else worth knowing is that although they may give out 0845 numbers for you to phone them, look a little further in your documentation for the number they supply to call them with a problem if you are overseas. It will start with +44 or 044. Strip off the (+/0)44 and add a zero and you have a number which may well be free to call (depending on your phone plan) from the UK. Banks are definitely a service that we buy, just like you would hire a builder or plumber. We certainly look at - and sometimes question - the prices that tradesmen charge and we have every right to do the same with financial services. They are riding on the fact that most people haven't yet got round to that way of thinking but it won't be for much longer because there is plenty of competition! The site I mentioned is on top of that and has many tips and tools - all free, by the way - which will help you make sense of it all!

My credit card is also from Lloyds, which makes payment transfers easy for me. If you use a different supplier for your credit card, then, of course, their 'security routines' need sorting out separately. I suspect that 'refused payments' as a result of a security check won't affect your Credit Rating but you will need to check that with your Credit Card supplier.